Bottle-filling machine with conveyer for conveying bottles to an elevator and pusher for pushing bottles from elevator to filling position



May 27, 1952 L. T. COOKSON BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE WITH CONVEYER FORCONVEYING BOTTLES TO AN ELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROMELEVATOR T0 FILLING POSITION Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. ZEa /HRD 7. Coo/($0M y 1952 T cooKsoN 2,597,852

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE WITH CONVEYER FOR CONVEYING BOTTLES TO ANELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR TO FILLINGPOSITION .7

' 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1946 Lsomn T COOKSON y 1952 L. T.COOKSON BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE WITH CONVEYER FOR CONVEYING BOTTLES TO ANELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR To FILLINGPOSITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1946 l NV ENTOR LEONARD TCOOKSOZV BY W TORN EY y 1952 L. 1'. COOKSON BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE WITHCONVEYER FOR CONVEYING BOTTLES TO AN ELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHINGBOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR To FILLING POSITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March2, 1946 7 ,sa az INVENTOR LEomo ZCaomsozv 27, 1952 1'. COOKSON 2,597,352

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE WITH CONVEYER FDR CQNVEYING BOTTLES TO ANELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR TO FILLINGPOSITION Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 .5.f 7 Q 5a 44 I 7 19. 854 INVENTOR LEOMARD T CO0K80N May 27, 1952 T. cooKsoN BOTTLE FILLINGMACHINE WITH CONVEYER FOR CONVEYING BOTTLES TO AN ELEVATOR AND PUSHERFOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR TO FILLING POSITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed March 2, 1946 l N V E NTO R flan/mp0 T Cools-0A! ATTORNEY y 1952'r. cooKsoN BOTTLE FILLING MAC IINE WITH CONVEYER FUR CONVEYING BOTTLESTO AN ELEVATOR AND PUSHER FOR PUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR TO FILLINGPOSITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.LEO/W780 7. Coo/(501v May 27, 1952 L. T. COOKSON BOTTLE FILLING MACHINEWITH CONVEYER FOR CONVEYING BOTTLES TO AN ELEVATOR AND PUSHER FORPUSHING BOTTLES FROM ELEVATOR TO FILLING POSITION Filed March 2, 1946Patented May 27, 1952 OFFICE Leonard T. Cookson, Kalamazoo, Mich,assignor to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Miclrz; a

corporation of Michigan Application March 2, 1946, Serial No. 651,551

13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for filling containers andparticularly contemplates a. machine for placing a measured amount ofdry material, such as medicinal capsules, into a small bottle.

In providing machines for filling bottles, particularly small bottles,with a measured amount of material, particular diiiiculty has beenexperienced in providing satisfactory, automatic mechanism fordelivering the bottles to filling position. While many forms ofmechanism have been developed and employed for this purpose, there haveremained certain problems which have not been satisfactorily solved. Thebottles being handled in large numbers, it is desirable that they may beplaced onto a feedin belt in only approximately predetermined positions,inasmuch as the placing of the bottles into definite receptacle orguiding means on the feeding belt requires from the operators moreindividual attention than is desirable. The magnitude-of this problemincreases rapidly with the number of bottles which it is desired to fillsimultaneously, and in a machine such as that hereinafter specificallydescribed for illustrative purposes, where it is contemplated that tenunits will be filled simultaneously, this placing problem becomes verygreat. v

On the other hand since the openings of these bottles are small, oftenof theorder of onequarter of an inch in diameter, they must reach andstop in a filling position under the mouth of a feeder with a highdegree of accuracy, stay there long enough to be filled and then moveon.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide automatic feeding mechanism fora machine for automatically filling small bottles in which the originalplacement of the bottles by the operator onto' a conveyor belt need bedone with only approximate accuracy but the bottles will arrive and stopat the filling position with a high degree of accuracy, and it isdesirable that such a mechanism be readily applicable to a large numberof bottles simultaneously presented to fillin stations.

With the foregoing in mind a major object of my invention has beentoprovide a machine for filling small bottles with measured amounts ofmaterial in which the bottles may be placed upon the initial feedingmeans with only approximate accuracy but which will deliver the bottlesto their filling position with a high degree of accuracy.

A further object of my invention has been to provide a machine asaforesaid which will handle a considerable plurality of bottlessimultaneously without materially increasing the initial feeding problemand without loss in accuracy.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine as aforesaid ofsuch construction that the design for any particular specific embodimentmay be easily modified to provide a machine for handling a differentnumber of bottles.

further object of my invention is to provide a machine as aforesaidhaving such a minimum of complexity and such ease of adjustment that theparts thereof will be simple to construct, assemble and to maintain inefficient operating condition.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine as aforesaidhaving a minimum of adjustments so that once a given machine is placedin operating condition with respect to a particular type of bottle itwill continue in such condition over a long period of time withoutfurther adjustment, but when any is needed it can be readily effected.

A further object of my. invention is to provide a machine as aforesaidwherein the bottles will be moved by positive and definite action sothat the likelihood of any bottles jamming and possible breaking in themachine is practically eliminated.

Other similar objects and purposes of my invention will be apparent topersons acquainted with equipment of this type upon examination of theaccompanying drawings and reading of the following specification:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of the assembled machine.

Figure 2 is a partially broken side elevation showing particularly themechanism for feeding and indexing the bottles.

Figure 3 is an elevation, taken from the righthand end of the machine asappearing in Figure 2, of the mechanism operating the feeding belt.

Figure 4 is an elevation taken from the righthand end as it appears inFigure 1 of the ram mechanism shown as separated from the rest of theparts.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the machine showing thefeed conveyor belt adjusting details.

Figure 6 is an end elevation taken from the right hand end as the sameappears in Figure 2 of the elevator mechanism shown separated from therest of the parts.

Figure 7 is a detailed side view of the mechanism operating the feederbelt.

Figure 8 is an end View of the mechanism operating the feeder belt takenfrom the lefthand end of the mechanism as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partially broken side elevation showin the counting drumand a portion of the feeding hopper.

Figure 10 is a section taken on either of the line X-X of Figure 6 or onthe line XX of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is a top view of a portion of the bottle stop and the elevatorwith which is cooperates.

Figure 12 is a side view of the ram and its operating mechanism.

Figure 13 is a top view of the ram.

Figure 14 is a semi-schematic, broken, fragmentary top view of theconveyor belt, elevator, filling platform, and parts directly associatedtherewith, with the frame driving structure and other conventional partsomitted for greater clarity in illustrating the operating partscomprising the invention.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary section taken on the line XV-XV of Figure 7showing further the arrangement parts along the conveyor driving shaft.

Figure 16 is a broken, somewhat schematic, section taken on the lineXVIXVI of Figure 14, showing only the bottle handling parts.

In providing a mechanism suitable to meet the objects and purposes aboveset forth it has been particularly important to provide a machine whichwill combine ease of feeding with accuracy of filling, simplicity ofconstruction with ease of adjustment for adapting the design to modelsof different sizes and capacity, and speed of operation with ease ofmaintenance. All of these objectives have been kept in mind and havebeen accomplished in the machine of which a specific embodiment is shownfor illustrative purposes in the drawings. It should be clearlyunderstood, however, that the principles developed and hereinillustrated are applicable to a substantial variation of structuraldetails and that those herein particularly shown and described areillustrative only. It should also be understood that since much of myspecific illustrative machine is conventional, certain parts of mydrawings herewith are schematic, and/Or abbreviated, or even omitexpress showing of such parts as framework,

the driving motor, mounting shafts and bearings,

and similar parts, since these items can all be readily supplied by anyskilled mechanic, but that all parts not conventional which are a partof, or necessary to, the operation of my machine are shown and describedin full and complete detail. While it will be understood that the hereindescribed machine may be advantageously used to fill a wide variety ofcontainers, as indicated in the first paragraph herein it is designedprimarily for filling bottles. Hen e, for illustrative purposes,reference to bottles will be used throughout the following descriptionto denote the containers, and an illustration of an ordinary capsulebottle is used in the accompanying drawings to denote the containerswhich the machine is intended to handle.

My machine fulfills the objects and purposes above set forth in thefollowing manner. Starting with a plurality of bottles irregularlyplaced onto a conveyor, a portion of them are delivered onto avertically moving elongated member, or elevator. This being of depth inthe direction parallel to the conveyor movement not greatly more thanthe diameter of any bottle with which a particular machine isdesignedto'operate, but

of width equal to the full width of the conveyor,

there will be formed on the elevator a single row of bottles in anapproximately straight line. The conveyor then moves backward slightlyto relieve the pressure imposed on the bottles on the ele' vator by thebottles following on the conveyor, whereupon the elevator moves down toa point in front of a pushing means, or ram, acting substantiallyhorizontally. As the ram moves, it engages the bottles through aplurality of adjustable ram heads carried on the ram body and positionedwith respect to each other to form the same pattern which it is desiredthat the bottles should assume, whether a straight line, a curve,staggered or otherwise. The ram heads engage the bottles and move themsubstantially horizontally to their desired positions and then withdraw,leaving the bottles in the relative positions with respect to each otheras determined by the respective positioning, of the ram heads. Theelevator then moves up to the conveyor level to repeat the cycle.

In my machine as generally shown in Figure 1, I provide a feedingmechanism 1 consisting of a hopper it; and a counting drum ll. This ismounted in a fixed spaced relation with a body part 2 containing thevarious driving elements for the several parts and supporting a conveyor3. This conveyor receives the bottles on its rightward end as the sameappears in Figure l and delivers them to indexing and feeding mechanismat s. Here the bottles, which may have been placed onto the conveyorwith considerable irregularity, are aligned into straight lateral rowsand then delivered precisely under the feeding funnels of the fillingstation at ,5. After filling, the bottles are moved leftward, stillreferring to the machine as appearing in Figure l, to a point near thedischarge end '6 where they may be removed from the machine either byhand o by delivery to a further conveyor, or by other suitable means.

The machine is mounted (Figure 2) on a suitable base member l2 to whichare fastened supporting plates, such as the plate 13, supportingindividual units of the various moving parts within the body part 2 ofthe machine. Suitable Vertical supports at each corner, such as thatpartially indicated at [4, are provided and these may or may not asdesired be connected by panels concealing the interior of the machinefrom view. At the upper and rearward part of the machine there isprovided a rearwardly extending part 15 for supporting the rearwardmostpart of the feeding conveyor as hereinafter explained in more detail.Other suitable framework is provided throughout the various parts of themachine supporting the several parts hereinafter described. These aresuitably and preferably made from pieces of angle iron bolted or weldedtogether, but may be of any conventional construction which will supportthe respective parts in the desired positions.

The feeding conveyor Near the rearward end of the supporting frameworkthere is provided a plurality of idler rollers l6 (Figures 2, 5, 14 and16). At the forward end of the conveyor are a plurality of drive rollersl8 Figures 8, 14 and 16 suitably mounted on a shaft [9. A plurality ofconveyor belts I! each'extend around a drive roller and an idler roller.Suitably placed between the respective conveyor belts l! are the guidepanels 20 and 20a Figures 5 and 14 which insure that the bottles will beproperly aligned laterally to come under the proper filling funnels.

For holding the several conveyor belts at the proper tension there isprovided a member 2| suitably mounted onto the general framework of themachine to which is pivoted at 22 a member 23 supporting at its outerend the idler Wheel 24. Screws 25 (Figures 2 and 5) held by the nut 26onto the boss 2'! bear at 28 against the underside of said member 23. Bysuitably holding the nut 26 and turning the knurled head 29 the variousconveyor belts can be quickly and individually adjusted to any desiredtension.

The drive for the conveyor units operates through the mechanismindicated generally at 30 (Figure 2) by cam actuation of the lever 3|.These parts are shown in more detail in Figures '8, 7 and 8 and consistof the following described elements.

A substantially rectangular base element 32 (Figures 8 and 15) ismounted on a hub 32a and suitably keyed to the shaft I9. Also mounted onthe shaft |9 but freely rotatable with respect to it is a ratchet 33 anda gear 34. The gear and the ratchet are fastened together. by anysuitable means such as a pin 35. A pair of pawls 36 and 31 (Figure '7)are suitably pivoted near each end of the base member 32, as by thethreaded pins 33, each held in place by a jam" nut 39. Any suitablespring supporting means, such as the curved segment 49, supports aspring 4| urging the pawl downwardly against the ratchet 33. The pawl 37is similarly spring loaded to urge it also against the ratchet.

Another gear 42 is located on the shaft l9 adjacent the gear 34 and byits hub 43 is suitably held forrotation with said shaft by a suitablekey or set screw. A major segmental gear 44 is held by its hub 45 on asuitable shaft 43, the said shaft 46 having integral with it a head 41holding the hub 45 against a thrust washer 48 and the whole being heldonto a frame member 49 by a suitable jam nut 50 which cooperates with athreaded extension 5| of the shaft 46. A minor segmental gear 52encircles the hub 45 and is rotatable with respect thereto. A boss 53extending from the major segmental gear 44 supports a screw 54 which isprovided with a jam nut 55, for holding said screw in a selectedposition. movement in one direction of said minor segmental gear withrespect to the major segmental gear. A similar assembly 56 determinesthe limit of relative movement of these parts in the other direction.Suitable cap screws 51 and 56 are threaded into the body of the majorsegmental gear and extend through the slots 59 and 69 of the minorsegmental gear. When properly tightened these will hold the twosegmental gears against relative movement with respect to each other andthus take the operat ing load off the more delicate adjusting elements.A link 6| is pivoted at 62 to the major segmental gear and reciprocatesto give said major segmental gear an oscillating motion around itspivotal support.

The lever element 3| is mounted (Figure 2) by a pivot 63 to a lug 64which is supported bythe base |3. A suitable cam 65 is mounted on a camshaft 16 in any convenient manner for timed rotation and operatespositively against a roller 3|a carried on said lever to give said leveran accurately timed oscillating motion. The upper end of said lever(Figure 7) is connected at the pivot point 66 to the link 6| and thusprovides This screw determines the limit of 5 r rotate counterclockwise.

said link with a reciprocating motion. The link 6| is preferably made intwo parts which are each threadedly inserted into an internally threadedconnecting member 61. By suitable rotation of this member in the mannerof a turnbuckle and the holding of it in any adjusted position by jamnuts 68 and 69, the length of the connecting link may be preciselyadjusted to assist in the accurate timing of the feeding mechanism.

The operation of this portion of the mechanism will be readilyunderstood. In the position shown in Figure 2 a bottle has beendelivered to the filling position, the ram 98 is retracting and theelevator platform-l4 is about to rise, after which the machine willcommence a feeding cycle. Reacting to the action of the cam 65 the upperend of the feed driving lever 3| (Figure 7) moves rightward, the twosegmental gears are caused to move clockwise about their centers, and asthey engage the gears 34 and 42 they cause said gears to movecounterclockwise as they appear in Figure 7. However, insofar as theminor segmental gear will engage the gear 42 and cause it to move asstated, this merely duplicates the action of the large segmental gearand has no function of its own in this part of the feeding cycle. Themajor segmental gear, in causing the gear 34 to rotate counterclockwise,as the same appears in Figure 7,. causes said gear acting through thepin 35 to drive the ratchet 33 likewise in a counterclockwise direction.Said ratchet operating through the vpawls 36 and 31 causes the basemember 32 and its hub 32a likewise to These elements being keyed to theshaft l9 cause said shaft and the conveyor drive rollers l8 likewise torotate. This rotation causes the conveyor to move leftward,

v as the same appears in Figures 2 and 16, and to move a row of bottlesonto the hereinafter described elevator.

As the first row of bottles moves off the conveyor belts it must be andis pushed by the succeeding row in order that said first row will moveentirely onto said elevator.

A backing plate I56 (Figures 2, l1 and 16) will usually be used with theelevator to prevent any bottles which are ahead of the general row fromgoing beyond the elevator, since there may be developed considerablepressure by the pushing bottles against a bottle on the elevator. In theabsence of precautionary measures this pressure may be sufficient toprevent a bottle on the elevator from descending with said elevator byholding it against said backing plate. Further, the pushing bottle willsometimes follow the pushed bottle slightly onto the elevator and beunder considerable pressure from the bottles following it. Thus when theelevator descends, even if the bottle on the elevator descendssatisfactorily with it, the next succeeding bottle will be in aprecarious position. It is thus desirable to relieve the pressure towhich these bottles are subjected before the elevator starts to descend.This is done by a momentary backward movement of the conveyorimmediately before the descent of the elevator. For this purpose theminor segmental gear 52 is provided.

When the feeding stroke is completed, the major segmental gear has movedits full distance clockwise. The minor segmental gear having moved alongWith it will now be found to the right of the gear 42 (Figure '7). Thereturn stroke of the link 6| commences immediately. When it movesleftward the two segmental gears 7. engage the gears 34 and 42 asbefore.This/time, however, the gear 35 is driving the ratchet 33 in a clockwisedirection so that the pawls are not engaged and the shaft I9 does notrespondto this turning. However, the teeth of the minor segmental gearwill engage the gear 42 and turn it through a few degrees of rotation ina clockwise direction. This gear through its hub 43 being keyed directlyto the shaft [9 will accordingly turn said shaft through a few degreesof clockwise rotation and thereby move the conveyor belt rightward ashort distance. This rightward motion of the conveyor belt moves thebottles backward sufficiently to relieve the pressure upon the bottlesdelivered to the elevator and thus leaves these latter free to movedownward with it. The segmental gears then return to their extremecounterclockwise position and are ready tobegin the next cycle.

The elevator mechanism block I I supports the elevator base it ontowhich is mounted the elongated elevator platform 14.

This platform comprises a base M6, spacers M7 and I48 (Figures and 11)defining a chamber between themselves for the reception of thehereinafter mentioned slides, and a top. plate I49 having therein aplurality of openings I59. The slides l5! and I52 are positioned betweensaid spacers and are suitably connected through the openings wt, to theseveral elevator partitions of which two are indicated at I53 and 154.The said slides being slightly thicker vertically than the spacers I41and I43, tightening of the two knurled holding nuts M5 to urge saidplate M9 toward the base i 28 will clamp the slides firmly in placetherebetween. Thus, with said nuts m loosened, the elevator partitionsmay be easily adjusted according to the width of bottles being used, andthen said nuts may be tightened to hold said partitions through saidslides against movement.

The guide block H is caused to reciprocate vertically by a cam actuatedlinkage. A connecting member i5, including rods a and 75b and anadjusting mechanism Hi similar to that above described for the link 6|,is afiixed by a suitable pivot member "H to a cam actuated lever 18(Figures 2 and 6). This lever is pivoted at 79 to a suitable mountingmember 88 which is in any convenient manner mounted onto the generalframework of the machine. This lever 18 is actuated by a cam follower78a (Figure 4) running in the groove of a suitable cam I05 mounted andactuated in any conventional manner, and is thus caused to oscillateabout its pivot point 19 in timed relationship with the rest of themechanism. Thus there is secured a timed vertical reciprocation of thesaid connecting member 15 and the elevator.

On the side of the elevator platform opposite the conveyor belt there isplaced a backing plate I56 (Figures 2, 11 and 16) which prevents bottlesbeing fed onto said elevator from being pushed too far. This backingplate is supported by a pair of suitable posts I51, each of which isadjustably held in a selected position by tightening one or both of theknurled nuts I53 and [.52 against the holding platform I60. Said.holding platform is suitably mounted to any convenient part of the frameof the machine. The .endmem ber I61 (Figures 14- and 16) of the framesupporting the conveyor belts ll fills the gap between the said beltsand the elevator.

By proper timing of the cam 105 with respect to the cam 65 the elevatoris caused tofbein' its uppermost position as th conveyor commencesmoving the bottles leftward. Thus the first row of bottles across theseveral conveyor belts will move onto the elevator, which remains insaid up,- per position until the minor segmental gear of the conveyorhas operated as above described to cause the conveyor to move a shortdistance rightward. The elevator then comes downwardly to the level ofthe loading platform 10 and the ram mechanism operates to push thebottles. off the elevator and into the filling position.

The timing of the elevators operation will be by proper adjustment ofits actuating cam I05, and precise adjustment of the vertical. stoppingpositions of the elevator may be determined by proper manipulation ofthe adjusting means [6;

The ram mechanism W a row of ot le h be n. wa ed er. the elevator to thelowermost position of said elevator, at which its upper surface is flushwith the per surface of the loading platform 10, it is then necessary tomove said bottles leftward as appearing inFigures l, 2 and 16 into theleading position indicated by the bottle shown at 1415 Figure 2.Further, it is necessary that thebottles which may be on the elevator ina stiil spine:- what irregular line be finally arranged intg a predetermined line, usually straight, in order that they may be placedaccurately under the'various feeding funnels l2l.

The base platform or guide member, Q0, (Figure 4) is suitably mountedonto the frame of the machine and has cutout from its upper. surface therecess 9| for the reception of the slide 92 A pair of plates 93 and 93aare fastened to the top of the guide block to overlap somewhat the cutout part 9| for the better retention and guide ing of the said slide. Anadjustable guide block it is provided to hold the slide in lateraljustment. A slot 94 is cut into the underside of the guide block 99 forthe accommod 9n of the actuating arm A connecting element Q6 eatendsthrough a space between the two top plates 93 and 93a and connects theslide -92 with the ram base 91 (Figure 12) This ram base is a bar ofsubstantially rectangular cross-section extending the full width of themachine and carries on it the rams 9 8 These rams are securely fastenedto the ram base by any convenient means such as cap screws. They eachcarry on their respective forward ends a ram head gas which contacts abottle and pushes it forward from the elevator into the fillingposition. suit able guides similar to the guides 2!! and 2011 (Fig--ures 2 and 11) may be mounted on the filling plat:- form 10 for thelateral control of each of the re spective bottles while being sopushed.

The actuating arm 95 for said rams is mounted on a suitable hub it!(Figure 4) which is piyotally mounted one. pair of lugs 192 and 1]};which in turn are mounted on a suitable base member I84 connected withthe frame of the m h ni The op ratin em pag (if n conventional type andis conveniently the reyrse side of cam $5. In any event this camJike-the 19 other cams, is mounted for rotation in any convenient mannerfrom any convenient source of power, such as by a cam shaft I56 drivenby any suitable means.

As the cam rotates it will act through a cam follower 9512 on the arm 95to cause an oscillating movement of said arm around the mounting pivotpoint I08 (Figure 2) and thereby cause a reciprocating motion of theupper end of said lever. This causes a reciprocating motion of the ramwhich is properly timed with the rest of the mechanism.

The ram is provided with any suitable means for adjusting itslongitudinal position with respect to the arm 95, such as the means I59(Figure 12) located between the top of the arm 95 and the depending ramdriving lug I I6. By suitable adjustment of the means I09 the forwardextent of the ram is controlled. Thus the ram may readily be adjustedfor bottles of different sizes in order to bring their respectivecenters directly under the center of the fixed feeding funnels I21.

The counting and filling mechanism Insofar as the foregoing describedmechanism is concerned the counting and filling mechanism may be of anyconventional type which will operate accurately and which may besuitably timed to cooperate with the rest of the machine. In Figure 9there is illustrated a type of counter which will be found advantageous.

Mounted upon a suitable pair of supporting side members of which oneappears at I20 is a drum I I and a hopper Ill. The drum has a series ofrecesses I23 therein which receive capsules or other solid material fromthe hopper in a con ventional manner. The brush I24 serves to preventthe passage of extra capsules which might otherwise jam in the machine.A guide I25 is placed close to the surface of the drum to hold thecapsules in their respective recesses until they reach the dischargepoint I26 at which they drop into the feeding funnel I27. By suitablydetermining the number of recesses I 23 in a given circumferential areaof the drum, any desired number of capsules can be delivered into afeeding funnel in a single revolution of the drum. By placing theserecesses in suitable rows and associating each row with a separatefunnel, an appropriately supplied feeding funnel may be provided foreach bottle which the rest of the machine delivers. The drum is drivenby any suitable means from any suitable source, but preferably by shaftand gear means operating from the shaft I driving the cams alreadymentioned.

Operation In summarizing the operation of my machine it will be assumedthat we are filling a three ounce cylindrical bottle with one hundredfifty capsules each, said capsules being of a substantially sphericalshape and approximately threesixteenths of an inch in diameter. Themachine as shown may be built to accommodate any convenient number ofrows of bottles for simultaneous filling. The feeding drum has rows ofcapsule receiving recesses I23, in number equal to the number ofconveyors with which the machine is provided, such as the four conveyorsshown in the fragmentary illustration of Figure 14. It will be evidentthat the number of such recesses may be coordinated with the number ofcapsules to be placed in a given bottle as desired i0 and that the drummay, according to its size, be caused to fill a bottle on a partialrevolution or in other cases it may be required to revolve two or moretimes to fill a given bottle. It is thus evident that for a givenmachine to handle a considerable variation and sizes of bottles it willnot be necessary to have a separate drum for each specific operation butthat a single drum will be able to cover a wide variety of conditions byproper timing thereof.

With the correct drum in place, the hopper I0 is supplied with capsulesand assuming the proper adjustments have already been made the machineis started. As the drum revolves in a clockwise direction, as the sameappears in Figure 9, the capsules contact the uppersurface I28 of thedrum and by their being considerably tumbled about each of the recessesI23 will receive a capsule therein. The brush I24 assists. the 10-cating of one capsule in each recess and prevents partially recessedcapsules from jamming in the 'mechanism. The capsules are carried aroundthe righthand segment I29 of the drum and are held within the recessesof the drum by the guide plate I25. As the capsules reach the dischargepoint I26 of the drum they are dropped through a plurality of feedingfunnels I21 into bottles which have been positioned below each of saidfunnels. Since a predetermined number of capsules will be in each groupof capsules receiving recesses,'exactly that number of capsules will bedischarged through the corresponding funnel into each of said bottles.After the last capsule has been dropped from the drum and this will bedone substantially simultaneously with respect to each group of recessesacross the drum, there follows a blank place in the drum from which nocapsules are dropped. This permits the filled group of bottles to bemoved away from beneaththe respective funnels and an unfilled row ofbottles to be moved into place.

While the first row of bottles is being filled the lever I8 is movedupwardly, which places the elevator platform 14 in an upward position sothat its top surface is flush with the top surface of the conveyor beltsH. The cam 65 operates to move the upper end of the lever 3| rightwardand thus operates the conveyor mechanism in the manner above described.The conveyor is accordingly moved leftward to bring up a row of bottlesto be filled.

As the conveyor belts move leftward, they will push a row of bottlesonto the elevator. When this row of bottles is fully onto the elevator,the conveyor belts are then reversed momentarily in the manner abovedescribed and moves rightward for a short distance to relieve thepressure on therow of bottles on the elevator by the row of bottlesimmediately following same. At this point the elevator cammoves past itshigh position and the lever 18 is allowed to move downwardly and thuslower the elevator to its lowermost position, at which the upper surfaceof its platform is flush with the upper surface of the loading platform70.

It is at approximately this point that the filling of the preceding rowof bottles from the'respective loading funnels is completed. The part ofcam I65 operating with the ram actuating arm now brings its actuatingpoint against the cam follower thereon and causes the said arm to moveleftward as same is shown in Figures 2 and 13. This through the abovedescribed connecting mechanism causes the. rams 98 to move leftward andbrings their several, ram. heads .99

against the row of bottleson the elevator :to push them leftward intoloading position under the respective funnels. Astheymoveinto loadingposition the incoming .bottles ithemselves move the filled bottlesleftward out of loading position.

As the next filling cycle commences the side of the cam I115 operatingwith the :ram actuating-arm1'95 comes to the end of its actuatingposition and the arm 95 immediately follows it rightward to withdraw therams 98 rightward awayfromtheelevator. .As soon as said ram mechanism.is retracted, the elevator is moved upwardlylto its raised position. Atthis time the side of thecam Bioperating with the feed control leverfil.againreaches its actuating point .by which the lever 3| is movedrightward and the conveyor commences .to operate to repeat the cycle.

The various adjustments above described as provided for themovingpartsof the machine willenable it to bekepteasily in operating conditionand enable it :to be readily adjusted for bottles of various sizes.Particularly 'if .the upper'surface of the platform 10 'be'etched, orotherwise markedfto show'by a suitable-plurality of lines therearwardextremity of bottles of different sizes when their respective centersare directly.underthecenters of "the feeding funnels, therarmmaybeeasily :adjusted to terminate its travel .at whichever .of suchpoints is desired. This may be doneby turning the machine'by hand untilthe ram is .in its'extreme leftward position,

as the same appears-in Figure 2, and then turning the adjustment )9forwardly or backwardly as needed'to align the front surfaces .of theramheads 99 with the appropriate line.

In this machine,;once it has .been'properly adjusted 'and'placed :inoperating condition, bottles maybe fed tothe receiving :end .oftheconveyor by a relatively unskilled operator without particular attentionto the placing of them in straight rows across the said feeder. However,as the bottles approach the discharge end of 'the feedconveyor thebottles, 'dueto thepressure of pushing a row .onto the elevator, willpack'them- 'selves'togetherrather tightlyat and near the discharge endof said conveyor. .A 'single row of bottles which is pushed onto theelevator will be located thereon in a substantially straight line. Thefinal aligning comes when the ram pushes the bottles from the elevatorinto feeding position. Since the'pushing surfaces of the individual ramsare on a straight line, within, of course, reasonable fabrication limitsof tolerance, any remaining irregularity in the alignment of saidbottles will be removed and they will be placed in position 'under thefeeding funnels in a straight line ready to be filled. Any lateraldisplacement tendency is controlled by theseveral described lateralguides for each longitudinal row of bottles, such as guides 20 and 20aassociated with the conveyor belt and the similar guides placed on theelevator and filling platform. Thus, each longitudinal row of bottles isproperly held against lateral displacement throughout its travel.

Any other pattern for the final arrangement of said bottles 'may beprovided by proper adjustment of the positions of the various ram headswith respect to each other, such as in a by'hand or they-may bepermitted to accumulate 12 on a .suitable tray which may be removedperiodically.

This machine will be found to be fast, accurate, easily shifted from onespecific use toanother-and easy to maintain in accurate operatingcondition.

I claim:

'1. :In means for arranging a plurality of irregularly arrangedfcontainers into predetermined relative positions for presentation to aplurality of other means, the combination comprising: a fillingplatform; a filling devicepositionedzabove said filling platform; afeeding conveyor zintermittently movable .in timed relationship to otherhereinafter mentioned means; a vertically movable elevator adapted forreceiving a plurality of said containers from said conveyor and meanslimiting the movement of said containers transversely of said elevatorwhereby said containers become arranged on said elevator in substantialconformity with the center line of said elevators; means effectingmomentary reverse movement of said conveyor after said plurality ofcontainers is placed on said elevator; means moving said elevatordownwardly to another position; a reciprocable ram'located under saidconveyor and movable horizontally when said elevator'reaches its saidother position, which ram has a plurality of container engaging headsarranged insclected positions relative to each other, engaging saidcontainers upon operation of said ram,

whereby said containers will be arranged into relative positionscorresponding to the said relative positions "of said engaging heads;means located primarily .below said ram for reciprocating same in timedrelation to said elevator and thereby pushing said containers from saidelevator onto said filling platform and under said filling device.

2. In mechanism for simultaneously filling a plurality of containers,the combination 'comprising: a filling platform; a filling devicepositioned above said filling platform; a horizontally operable feedingconveyor of width suffi cient to accommodate a selected number of saidcontainers, and means supporting same with respect to a frame; drivingmeans intermittently advancing said conveyor in timed relation tohereinafter mentioned other parts of said machine; a vertically movingelevator of width at least as wide as the container carrying portion ofsaid conveyor intermittently positionable for receiving containersfrom'said conveyor; a backing plate adjacent said elevator for limitingmovement of a given group of said containers in response to the urgingof containers following same on said conveyor; means automaticallyeffecting sufficient reverse movement of said conveyor when the elevatoris loaded to relieve all pressure between said containers on theelevator and those following same; means moving said elevator downwardlyfrom its said loading position to an unloading position; a horizontally,reciprocably, moving ram positioned belowsaid conveyor and havingcontainer engaging means engaging said containers and moving themhorizontally onto and along saidv filling platform into their respectivefilling positions under said filling means, whereby the lateralalignment of said containers is determined in response to thecorresponding alignment of the container engaging means; means locatedprimarily belowsaid ram for reciprocatingsame in timed relation to saidelevator'and thereby push- 13 ing said containers from said elevatoronto said filling platform and under said filling device.

3. In container filling mechanism, feeding means comprising thecombination of a horizontally operable feeding conveyor, and meanssupporting same with respect to a frame including a driving roller;means intermittently rotating saiddriving roller in timed relation tothe hereinafter mentioned other parts of said mechanism including ashaft supporting said roller and fastened thereto for rotatingtherewith; a pair of driving means on said shaft, a pair of segmentalgears cooperating with said pair of driving means, the one of saiddriving means being related to said shaft for only uni-directionaldriving thereof and the other being connected to said shaft for drivingthereof in either direction;

and means causing timed oscillation of said segmental gears; avertically reciprocable elevator; a horizontally reciprocable feedingram and a discharge platform; timed actuating means causing saidelevator to be in an upward position while said container supportingportion of the conveyor belt moves toward it for a predetermined periodand momentarily backward away from it, and then causing said elevator tomove downward to a point on the same horizontal plane with the dischargeplatform and further means causing said ram to push a container from itsposition on said elevator onto said discharge platform.

4. In container filling mechanism the combination comprising: ahorizontally operable feeding conveyor, and means supporting same withrespect to a frame including a driving roller; means intermittentlyrotating said driving roller in timed relation to hereinafter mentionedother partsof said machine, including a shaft supporting said roller andfastened thereto for rotation therewith; a pair of actuating means onsaid shaft, a pair of inter-connected segmental gears cooperating withsaid pair of actuating means, one actuating means being related to saidshaft for only uni-directional driving thereof and the other beingconnected to said shaft for the driving thereof in either direction andsaid segmental gear operating with said one actuating means being ofgreater circumferential length than said other segmental gear; meanscausing timed oscillation of said segmental gears; a timeable verticallyreciprocable elevator; a timeable horizontally reciprocable feeding ram,and a feeding platform in cooperative relationship with intermittentlyoperating timeable feeding means.

5. In container filling mechanism having an horizontal conveyor belt,and means including a driving roller supporting said conveyor belt inoperative position and a container receiving member intermittentlypositioned in a container receiving position adjacent the discharge endof said feeding conveyor wherein a given container is pushed onto theconveyor receiving member by the pressure of containers following it onthe conveyor and means actuating the roller driving said conveyor belt,the improvement in said last-named means comprising: a shaft supportingsaid driving roller and rotatable therewith; a plate rotatable with saidshaft and supporting a pawl; a ratchet cooperating with said pawlmounted on said shaft but rotatable independently of it; a forwarddriving gear supported by said shaft but rotatable independently of itconnected with said ratchet for rotation with said ratchet; a backwarddriving gear mounted on said shaft and connected to it for rotation withit; one segmental gear cooperating with the forward driving gear andanother segmental gear cooperating with the backward driving gear; meanspivotally supporting said segmental gears and means causing oscillationof said segmental gears; whereby oscillation of said segmental gears inone direction will operate through said forward driving gear and saidratchet to drive the conveyor in one direction and oscillation of saidsegmental gears in the other direction will operate through saidbackward driving gear to drive the conveyor in a reverse direction.

6. In container filling mechanism having a conveyor belt, and meansincluding a driving roller supporting said conveyor belt in operativeposition, and a container receiving member intermittently positioned ina container receiving position adjacent the discharge end of saidfeeding conveyor wherein a given container is pushed onto the conveyorreceiving member by the pressure of the containers following it on theconveyor and means actuating the roller driving said conveyor belt, theimprovement in said last named means comprising: a shaft supporting saidroller and fastened thereto for rotation therewith; a pair of actuatingmeans on said shaft, a pair of inter-connected segmental gearsrespectively cooperating with said pair of actuating means; oneactuating means related to said shaft for only uni-directional drivingthereof and the other being connected to said shaft for the drivingthereof in either direction, and said segmental gear operating with saidone actuating means being of greater circumferential length than theother said segmental gear, and means selectably and simultaneouslyoscillating said segmental gears.

7. In a container filling machine, the combination comprising: a fillingplatform and a base platform co-planar therewith; counting and fillingmeans mounted above said filling platform; a conveyor frame positionedabove and spaced from said base platform and having belt-type conveyormeans thereon, said conveyor means being of such width as to accommodatea plurality of transversely arranged containers and said conveyor meanshaving its discharge end adjacent to said counting and filling means andspaced therefrom; a single elevator platform of sufficient width to spanthe entirety of said conveyor means adjacent to the discharge end ofsaid conveyor and means raising and lowering said elevator platform;pushing means between said base platform and said conveyor means, andmeans actuating said pushing means when'said elevator platform is in itslowermost position to'move containers on said elevator platform towardsaid counting and filling means; guide means associated with saidconveyor means defining parallel channels positioned parallel' to thedirection of movement of said conveyor 'means, said guide means beingspaced apart only sufficiently to permit easy passage of a containertherebetween, and other guide means similarly spaced positioned on'thefilling platform and providing passageways from the elevator platform toand beyond the point, on said filling platform which is below saidfilling and counting means; whereby an operator may watch from the samepoint of observation the containers on the conveyor, the bottlesapproaching the point of filling andthese portions of the filling meansadjacent to the containers being filled 8. In a container fillingmechanism having a fixed thereto for 15 horizontal conveyor belt, andmeans including a driving roller supporting saidconveyor belt inoperative position and a container receiving member intermittentlypositioned in a container receiving position adjacent to the dischargeend of said conveyor belt wherein a given container is pushed onto theconveyor receiving member by the pressure of containers following it onthe conveyor, and means actuating the roller driving said conveyor belt,the improvement in said last named means comprising: a shaft support ingsaid driving roller and rotatable therewith; a pawl and means on saidshaft supporting same for rotation therewith; a ratchet cooperating withsaid pawl mounted on said shaft but rotatable independently of it; aforward driving gear coaxial with said shaft, and connected with saidratchet for rotation therewith; a backward driving gear mounted on saidshaft and connected to it for rotation therewith; a segmental gearcooperating with said forward driving gear and another segmental gearcooperating with the backward driving gear; means pivotally supportingsaid segmental gears and means causing oscillation of said segmentalgears; whereby oscillation of said segmental gears in one direction willoperate through said forward driving gears and said ratchet to drive theconveyor in one direction and oscillation of said segmental gears in theother direction will operate through said backward driving gear to drivethe conveyor in the reverse direction.

9. In a container filling mechanism having a horizontal conveyor belt,and means including a driving roller supporting said conveyor belt inoperative position and a container receiving member intermittentlypositioned in a container receiving position adjacent to the dischargeend of said conveyor belt wherein a given container is pushed onto theconveyor receiving member if by the pressure of containers following iton the conveyor, and means actuating the roller driving said conveyorbelt, the improvement in said last named means comprising: a shaftsupporting said driving roller and rotatable therewith; a forwarddriving gear on said shaft and af uni-directional movement therewith;abackward driving gear mounted on said shaft and connected to it forrotation therewith in either direction; a segmental gear cooperatingwith the forward driving gear and another segmental gear cooperatingwith the backward driving gear; means pivotally supporting saidsegmental gears and means causing reciprocation thereof; wherebymovement of said segmental gears in one direction will operate throughsaid forward driving gear to drive the conveyor in one direction andmovement of said segmental gears in the other'direction will operatethrough said backward driving gear to drive the'conveyor in the reversedirection.

10. In a container filling mechanism having a horizontal conveyor belt,and means including a driving roller for supporting said conveyor beltin an operative position and a container receiving member intermittentlypositioned in a container receiving position ad jacent to the dischargeend of said conveyor belt wherein a given containe'ris pushed onto theconveyor receiving member by the pressure of the containers following iton the conveyor, and means actuating the roller driving said conveyorbelt, the improvement in said last named means on said shaft and affixedthereto for uni-directional rotation therewith; a backward driving gearmounted on said shaft and connected to it for rotation therewith ineither direction; a toothed element cooperating with the forward drivinggear and another toothed element cooperating with the backward drivinggear; means supporting said toothed elements and means causingreciprocation thereof; whereby movement of said toothed elements in onedirection will operate through the forward driving gear to drive theconveyor in one direction and movement of said toothed elements in theother direction will operate through said backward driving gear to drivethe conveyor in the reverse'direction.

11. In a container filling mechanism having a conveyor belt, and meansincluding a driving roller supporting said conveyor belt in operativeposition, and a container receiving member intermittently positioned ina container receiving position adjacent to the discharge end of saidconveyor belt wherein a given container is pushed onto the containerreceiving member by the pressure of the containers following it on theconveyor, and means actuating the roller driving said conveyor belt, theimprovement in said last named means comprising; a shaft supporting saidroller and fastened thereto for rotation therewith; a pair of toothreceiving members on said shaft, one of said tooth receiving membersbeing related to said shaft for unidirectional driving thereof and theother tooth receiving member being connected to said shaft for thedriving thereof in either direction; a pair of interconnected toothedelements respectively cooperating with said pair of tooth receivingmembers, said toothed element operating with said one tooth receivingmember being of greater operative length than the other toothed'element;and means selectably and simultaneously reciprocating said toothedelements.

12. In a container filling machine, the combination comprising: fillingplatform; a base platform substantially co-planar therewith; fillingmeans mounted above said filling platform; a conveyor supporting framepositioned above spaced from said base platform and a conveycr supportedthereon, said conveyor having its discharge end adjacent to said fillingmeans and spaced therefrom; an elevator platform adjacent to thedischarge end of said conveyor and means for raising and lowering saidelevator platform; pusher means between said base platform and saidconveyor, and means horizontally actuating said pusher means when saidelevator platform is in its lowermost position to move containers onsaid elevator platform toward and onto said filling platform; and meansintermittently moving said conveyor, reciprocating said elevatorplatform and reciprocating said pusher means all in timed relation toeach other for moving containers by said conveyor onto said elevatorplatform, lowering said containers by said elevator platform to a pointsubstantially co-planar with said filling platform and thence pushingsaid containers from said elevator plat form onto said filling platform.

13. In a container filling machine, the combination comprising: afilling platform; 'a base platform; filling means mounted above saidfilling platform; a conveyor supporting framepositioned above and spacedfrom said base platform and a conveyor supported thereon; an elevatorplatform adjacent to the-discharge end of said conveyor and means forraising and lower-- ing said elevator platform; its upper position beingsubstantially co-planar with said conveyor and its lower position beingsubstantially coplanar with said filling platform; pusher means betweensaid base platform and said conveyor and supported by said baseplatform; and means horizontally actuating said pusher means when saidelevator platform is in its lowermost position to move containers onsaid elevator platform toward and onto said filling platform; and meansintermittently moving said conveyor, reciprocating said elevatorplatform and reciprocating said pusher means all in timed relation toeach other for moving containers by said conveyor onto said elevatorplatform, lowering said containers by said elevator platform to a pointsubstantially co-planar with said filling platform and thence pushingsaid containers from said elevator platform onto said filling platform.

LEONARD T. COOKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Re. 20,675 771,090 1,090,855 1,115,758 1,524,291 1,554,4401,729,237 1,467,019 1,593,882 1,609,802 1,839,925 1,977,307 2,092,9162,215,036 2,241,721

18 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rodd Mar. 22, 1938 Pugh Sept. 27,1904 Jagenberg Mar. 24, 1914 Whitton Nov. 3, 1914 Dennis Jan. 27, 1925Letort et a1 Sept. 22, 1925 Albertoli Sept. 24, 1929 Tzibides Sept. 4,1923 Robinson July 27, 1926 Ekstrom et a1 Dec. 7, 1926 McKaig Jan. 5,1932 Hayssen Oct. 16, 1934 Hildebrand Sept. 14, 1937 Hartman Sept. 17,1940 Hoppe May 13, 1941 Hlavaty Nov. 10, 1942

